allroom that Alessia and Luca had just fled. The distant hum of the sea echoed against the cliffs, but Alessia barely

e led her through a narrow stone corridor that ran along the edge of the estate. His large fram

Her mother's sobs still echoed in her ears, and the image of Vincenzo's lifeless body was seared in

e out, her voice breaking. "Where a

rly ran into him. He turned to face h

low but firm. "For now. But if you don't sh

he refused to back down. "You don't get t

in shadow. "Do you want to die tonight? Do you want your mother to die? Because that's what will happen if we

nd nodded. She hated him-hated the way he spoke to he

ed and continued down the corridor. Alessia

-

nd a thicket of overgrown ivy. Luca pushed the heavy wooden door open, revealin

" Alessia asked, her

's close enough to monitor the estate but far

ho are 'they'? Who

ence. He glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "They'r

essia said, her frustratio

wer you're getting

demand that he treat her like a human being instead of an inconvenience. But she knew it

-

est than the Castello D'Oro, with crumbling stone walls and a rusted metal gate that creaked as Luca p

he night," Luca said as h

ather couch, a wooden coffee table, and a fireplace that hadn't

uick and methodical. Alessia stood in the middle of the room, her arms wr

ered, gesturing

eplied, her voice bar

is dark eyes narrowin

. She sank onto the couch, her hands t

n hushed tones that Alessia couldn't make out. When he hung

said. "Your mother is safe for n

ef, but it was short-lived. "What do

Revenge. Take your pick. My father had plenty of enemies,

ia said bitterly. "And now we

ou're alive because of h

ergy to argue with Luca, not now. Instead, she leaned back against the couch a

-

ash of waves against the cliffs. Alessia thought she might finall

stay here

frowned at him. "What

d, his tone matter-of-fact. "You're a liab

part of this world. My mother married

ive with the consequen

rden you have to deal with. I didn't ask for any of this! And I ce

For a moment, she thought he might actually a

ice softer now. "We'll figure ou

ng down her body won out. She sank back onto the c

couldn't help but wonder if s

-

olled through messages from his men, he couldn't help but glance at Alessia. His ste

didn't simper for his attention. Instead, she fought back, even when she

s priority was securing the family's position and hunting down the me

-

ced with questions she didn't have answers to, fears she couldn't shake. She thought ab

the way he looked at her like she was nothing. But there was something about him she cou

as she didn't trust him, she felt